Author Archives: Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

About Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena is a freelance writer for both Country Music News and Country Music On Tour. Want to collab on some content? Email me. Want my rates for commercial promo work? Get them right here.

2016 ACM Awards: Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley to Host

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The 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will feature superstar hosts Luke Bryan and his good friend Dierks Bentley. This will be Dierk’s first time hosting a live TV event, so he’ll really be leaning on Luke to help him pull it off. The 2016 ACM Awards will broadcast live from the fabulous Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. “When we found ourselves searching for a new co-host I didn’t have to look much further than my own circle of friends so Dierks was a natural choice,” said Bryan. “We have a lot of fun together and I know the fans will be in for something special.” “I think everyone knows Luke is the guy you call when you want to have a good time,” said Bentley. “If we have half as much fun hosting together as we do backstage, it’s going to be a great night.” In the days leading up to the big night, the Academy will also be hosting the 4th ACM Party for a Cause® Festival featuring headliners Carrie Underwood on Friday, April 1st, Dierks Bentley on Saturday, April 2nd and Kenny Chesney on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at the new Las Vegas Festival Grounds. For more information and to view the full performer lineup, fans can go to www.ACMPartyForaCause.com. The Academy will release the full schedule of The Week Vegas Goes Country® events soon, but you can be sure that it will be a week you won’t want to miss! Just this past year, the 2015 milestone 50th ACM Awards telecast on April 19 and ACM Presents: Superstar Duets on May 15th together reached nearly 21 million viewers, combined. The Awards telecast on April 19th delivered the largest audience since 1998, according to Nielsen, reaching nearly 16 million viewers. Also, the 50th ACM Awards ranked as the most social broadcast of April 19, according to Nielsen Social.

What Is the Country Megaticket and How Does It Work?

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2018 Country Megaticket Venues and Lineup

You see listings for The Country Megaticket every time you look up your favorite artists’ tour dates, but at those prices, you KNOW it has to be a pretty big deal… but what is it exactly? Well, CountryMusicNewsBlog.com is here to answer just that! As the recession started to rise and our wallets started to empty, the country music industry was determined to find a way to keep it possible for their artists to tour and the fans to afford it, so they came up with a plan. The Country Megaticket: A series of major headliner concerts spreading over the course of the entire summer, all at one venue, and all for a one-time ticket purchase. You buy one Country Megaticket, and get admission to the entire concert series at that venue all summer long. This year we are excited to announce top performances from country music megastars Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, and many MANY more! What is the Country Megaticket? Every year LiveNation and AEG get together to bring country music fans the summer of a lifetime by gathering the hottest acts in the industry in a series of country concerts held at spectacular venues across the nation. A single ticket grants fans access to a series of concerts that span the entire summer beginning in May and sometimes stretching all the way into October. 2018 Country Megaticket Performers: Jason Aldean Dierks Bentley Luke Bryan Kenny Chesney Alan Jackson Lady Antebellum Darius Rucker Miranda Lambert Little Big Town Brad Paisley Rascal Flatts Keith Urban.  2018 Country Megaticket Venues: Verizon Amphitheatre Alpharetta, GA Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Bethel, NY Jiffy Lube Live Bristow, VA PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte, NC Riverbend Music Center Cincinnati, OH Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Starplex Pavilion Dallas, TX Darien Lake Amphitheater Darien Center, NY XFINITY Theatre Hartford, CT PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center Indianapolis, IN Southern California Los Angeles, CA XFINITY Center Mansfield, MA Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View, CA BB&T Pavilion Philadelphia, PA Ak-Chin Pavilion Phoenix, AZ KeyBank Pavilion Pittsburgh, PA Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Raleigh, NC USANA Amphitheatre Salt Lake City, UT Mattress Firm Amphitheatre San Diego, CA Saratoga Performing Arts Center Saratoga Springs, NY Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre St. Louis, MO Lakeview Amphitheater Syracuse, NY Budweiser Stage Toronto, ON Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater Wantagh, NY Coral Sky Amphitheatre West Palm Beach, FL Toyota Amphitheatre Wheatland, CA

KID ROCK Announced As Final Headliner: 4th Annual Taste of Country Music Festival

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NASHVILLE, TN – January 21, 2016 – Kid Rock has been named as the third and final headliner at the 4th Annual Taste of Country Music Festival, the Northeast’s premier 3-day country music festival. The Festival will be held June 10-12, 2016 at Hunter Mountain Resort (Hunter, NY) in the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County. [bctt tweet=”Tickets for @TOCFestival, with @KennyChesney, @JakeOwen and @KidRock on sale now #tocfest “] Kid Rock will join Kenny Chesney and Jake Owen – who were previously announced as headliners – as well as Gary Allan, Big & Rich, Frankie Ballard, Eric Paslay, Old Dominion, Neal McCoy, The Swon Brothers, The Cadillac Three, Jana Kramer, Chris Janson, Outshyne and Annie Bosko on the TOC stage in 2016. This marks Kid Rock’s first appearance at the Taste of Country Music Festival. The artist’s latest album, First Kiss, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard’s Top Rock Albums Chart. Rolling Stone declared, “There’s no arguing with music offered with this degree of energy, joy and conviction,” and that “The Kid has no intention of aging gracefully — happily, he’s as ornery and open-hearted as ever.” “Kid Rock’s cross-over country has wide appeal and lends itself nicely to the Festival, which features every genre of Country music,” said Dhruv Prasad, Executive Vice President, Live Events, Townsquare Media Inc. “And without a doubt, his high-energy live performance is second to none – we can’t wait for Kid to take the stage.” The Bud Light Stage, featuring a diverse mix of rising country music talent, will once again be part of the festival’s array of entertainment. Logan Brill, Adley Stump, Amanda Watkins, Keith Walker, Jake Worthington, McKenna Faith and Dylan Jakobsen are scheduled to perform. Additional information about the Bud Light Stage can be found on the Taste of Country Music Festival website, and will be posted on the Festival’s social media sites. Tickets for the Taste of Country Music Festival are on sale at www.tasteofcountryfestival.com. General admission tickets start at only $175 for a 3-day pass, available for a limited time only. VIP packages start at $529 for a 3-day VIP “Outlaw” pass, with “Super Outlaw” options available as well. The Festival is again offering attendees an off-site car and RV camping option at Bear Creek, located a few miles from the festival grounds, with camping prices starting at $119. The off-site camping passes will come with free shuffle service to/from the festival grounds. In response to the Festival’s incredible growth over the past few years, a Guaranteed Tent Camping option has been added, with passes starting at $10. Free Tent Camping is still an option, provided there is space available at the time of entry. Information on tickets, camping, VIP packages, hotel accommodations, directions and more are available online at TasteofCountryFestival.com. The Taste of Country Music Festival is the first and only 3-day country music camping festival in the Northeast. The Festival features world-class entertainment, camping in the renowned terrain of the Catskills, outdoor recreation, top-notch food and Continue reading KID ROCK Announced As Final Headliner: 4th Annual Taste of Country Music Festival→

2016 NAMM Performers

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Hundreds of artists from nearly every imaginable musical genre will perform on five NAMM Show stages and at dozens of industry events during the 2016 NAMM Show in Anaheim, January 21-24. Live music will set the stage for product debuts from more than 5,000 brands throughout the four-day music industry event. Star-studded awards shows, iconic speakers, legendary musicians and music-making opportunities provide the soundtrack to a NAMM Show the industry will be talking about for years to come. “The annual gathering of the musical tribes during the NAMM Show naturally seems to create a festival type atmosphere; craftsman, artists and innovators coming together from around the globe united in their passion for music,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. “And all the parties, concerts, and intimate networking that occurs during and after show hours are legendary, as are the friendships and deep connections formed at NAMM.” Productive days on the show floor flow into evenings for networking with friends, enjoying live jams on the NAMM Nissan Grand Plaza Stage, the new NAMM Sheraton Acoustic Stage, NAMM CenterStage Presented by Pioneer DJ, NAMM Marriott Stage, and the NAMM Hilton Stage. Live Music at NAMM Each night from 6-7:30 p.m. on the NAMM Nissan Grand Plaza Stage, check out iconic artists noted for shaping their musical eras and genres. Immediately following the Industry Tribute on opening night, legendary singer-songwriter Graham Nash will take the stage for an Evening with Graham Nash. Friday night The NAMM Foundation and The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus present The Imagine Party featuring Dr. John & the Nite Trippers. Celebrate music education with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and six-time GRAMMYTM winner Dr. John, for a live performance co-hosted by OWC, Neutrik USA, Genelec, Securematics and Juniper Networks. Saturday night, members of The Legends band will headline the NAMM Nissan Grand Plaza Stage from 6-7:30 p.m., playing cover songs from each of their previous bands. The Legends consists of Bill Champlin (Chicago), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Dennis Tufano (The Buckinghams), Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night), Jimy Sohns (Shadows of the Knight), Spencer Davis (Spencer Davis Group) and other guest artists. Drop in for the Pioneer DJ Happy Hour Thursday-Saturday, 3–3:40 p.m. and Sunday, 2-2:40 p.m. at the NAMM CenterStage Presented by Pioneer DJ. High profile guest DJs will fill the center of the show with beats as industry guests refuel. Check out the full line up of performances on the NAMM Show stages, including Don Wilson of The Ventures, Kruger Brothers Band, Bernie Williams & Gil Parris, and other top names. She Rocks Awards Friday from 7-8:45 p.m., the She Rocks Awards presented by the Women’s International Music Network pays tribute to women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry. Held in the Hilton Anaheim Pacific Ballroom, the event honors performers Nita Strauss (co-host of the event), Chaka Khan, Jennifer Batten, Amy Heidemann of Karmin, along with other female industry leaders including Executive Director of the NAMM Foundation, Mary Luehrsen. Purchase Continue reading 2016 NAMM Performers→

Country Music News Blog is Shifting Gears!

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CMNB Launches Country Music Bloggers Industry Platform - A resource for lead opportunities, blogging education, industry contact management, and customized tools made just for our country music blogging community.

Ten years ago country music had little to no representation in the online world. CMT and GACTV both had companion websites to expand on their televised content, and Country Weekly had a landing page to drive print magazine subscriptions. That’s when CountryMusicNewsBlog.com was born, out of a need for fan-driven immediate access country music updates. It’s amazing how far country music has come in just one decade. We’ve taken over mainstream music in ways we never thought would happen, with prime time network shows like Nashville, our award shows being some of the highest rated events in television, and country concert tours proving there’s still an entire touring market out there, even in a recession. And Country Music News Blog has been there for it all. We’ve helped break artists like The Band Perry, Kacey Musgraves, and Zac Brown Band. We’ve had exclusive interviews and releases with hundreds of artists, and launched several video series that give fans an inside look into the lives of country music stars. [bctt tweet=”@CMNBlog Launches #CountryMusic #Bloggers Industry Platform Beginning Jan 1st 2016!”] But our shining moment… the moment we are most proud of was when we found a way to collaborate with other country music bloggers for our #BlogRodeo events. Working with other writers and sites in the field really helped separate our industry from the rest in the way that we all put our own drive for success aside. It wasn’t competitive, it was a community, where we took the time to examine specific areas of the country music environment as a team and helped shape the immediate future of country music entertainment. It is with that in mind that I would like to announce that Country Music News Blog is permanently changing our focus. Where we once stood alone in the beginning, we are now surrounded by hundreds of fellow country music news sites, and each has their own strong points and unique coverage abilities, all focused on the end country music fan. What we find lacking now, and are working hard to create, is a solid resource for those country music sites. A resource for lead opportunities, blogging education, industry contact management, and customized tools made just for our country music blogging community. We will be the place new bloggers can go to learn the best practices and web etiquette, where publicists can go to reach their campaign goals, and where experienced writers can go to share their experience and discuss the industry as a whole from a professional’s perspective. We will be holding all new content until New Year’s Day 2016 when we re-launch CMNB as a country music blogging industry platform! Bloggers and writers: Be a part of the driving voice behind the country music industry, join us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/countrymusicnewsblogs/   or email us at CMNB.  As always, we love to directly involve our publicist and sponsor friends. Please email us to see how you can be a part of this rebirth!

Blake Shelton to Host 2016 Nickelodeon ‘s Kids Choice Awards

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It seems television can’t get enough of Blake Shelton as he gets tapped to host the 2016 Kids Choice awards. Country Music superstar and coach on the Emmy winning NBC’s The Voice, Blake Shelton, will host Nickelodeon’s 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards, airing live on Saturday, March 12, 2016. Super-sized surprises will take over this year’s Kids’ Choice Awards honoring favorites from the worlds of film, music, and television, and giving kids a front-row seat to slime, stunts and celebrities.  The show will be seen by kids around the globe on Nickelodeon channels in more than 180 countries and territories. Additional Kids’ Choice Awards news will be announced in the coming months. Said Shelton of his hosting duties: “I’ve been on countless stages throughout my life, but none have promised the madness, excitement and endless slime as Nick’s Kids’ Choice Awards, which is undoubtedly the ultimate party for kids.  There is only one team here, and it’s Team Kids’ Choice so bring it on Nickelodeon!

Kenny Chesney Releases Spread the Love 2016 Tour Dates

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Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert release the first round of 2016 “Spread the Love” tour dates! Kenny Chesney and co-headliner Miranda Lambert made the big announcement today. The first series of stadium tour dates in 2016, starting with an April 23rd concert at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. The Spread the Love tour rolls on from there, with Chesney visiting an additional 10 stadiums — including Chase Field in Phoenix, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City — before the summer comes to a close [bctt tweet=”@KennyChesney and @MirandaLambert release the first round of 2016 #SpreadtheLove tour dates!”]

Shooter Jennings Touching Goodbye to Former Art Teacher

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Shooter Jennings shares a heartfelt goodbye via twitter to a teacher that became a great friend. When a teacher makes an amazing impact on us, we carry that throughout our whole lives. If we are lucky, we take an opportunity to tell them what an amazing difference they made for us. And when we lose them, it breaks us. It hurts as much as any family member or loved one’s passing does, and then a little bit more in ways theirs can’t, because it impacts the very thing inside of us they helped to awaken. With that being said, our hearts at CMNB go out to Shooter Jennings as he and most likely countless other former students mourn the passing of his beloved art teacher Mr. Gene Sizemore. It's w great sadness that I hear of my good friend and art teacher Gene Sizemore's passing. I will never forget my dear friend + blues fan. I used to go visit Mr. Sizemore after I graduated, anytime I was in town really. We would smoke cigarettes and listen to the radio and talk about music, and playing music, and bands we loved and Jesco White. He was always my favorite. Anytime I had a day off in town I would him down and hang out with him. I WANTED to hang out with him as much as I could. He was one of those guys who got me, and I got him. It was as simple as that. I had no idea he was sick. I remembered when I quit smoking one time and I felt so guilty that I couldn't smoke with him. Then the next time he had quit and I was smoking by myself. I knew we would remain friends forever. I just saw him about two and a half yrs ago when I played at the USN auditorium. I'm happy he got to meet Misty . He was just the coolest, and I'm really gonna miss him. Please take the time to visit the teachers that mattered to you in school whenever you can. They give their lives over to expanding minds and opening hearts to the unknown. They need to know it was appreciated. It's w great sadness that I hear of my good friend and art teacher Gene Sizemore's passing. I will never forget my dear friend + blues fan. — Shooter Jennings (@ShooterJennings) October 21, 2015 I used to go visit Mr. Sizemore after I graduated, anytime I was in town really. We would smoke cigarettes and listen to the radio and talk — Shooter Jennings (@ShooterJennings) October 21, 2015 about music, and playing music, and bands we loved and Jesco White. He was always my favorite. Anytime I had a day off in town I would track — Shooter Jennings (@ShooterJennings) October 21, 2015 him down and hang out with him. I WANTED to hang out with him as much as I could. He was one of those guys who got me, and Continue reading Shooter Jennings Touching Goodbye to Former Art Teacher→